Miracle on the Mesa

Director:

Alan Shilin

Writer:

Alan Shilin

Production Date:

1950

Producer:

unknown

Narrator:

House Jameson

Run Time:

0:20:48

Sponsor:

P. Lorrilard Company

Edited by: Ann BuschPhotographed by: Toge FujihiraEstablishing shot: A kachina figure dissolves over clouds and the camera vertically descends, revealing a large canyon. In the base of the canyon water can be seen flowing. A tree in the left foreground provides depth to the shot.Named locations: The Painted Desert; the towering Mesas of Arizona; Keams Canyon, headquarters of the Hopi Indian Agency; Pinon Junction (sign); Oraibi (sign); Tuba City (sign);Major themes covered: Hopi gods and religion; the daily life of the HopiNative activities shown: A family eating together at a table; a man exiting his home; a Hopi man tending to his crops; a Hopi man planting seeds in a traditional manner; John Ovayama and his family taking a mule to their farmland; a Hopi man smoking on his horse; Hopi man checking water for its quality; Hopi woman making pottery; a Hopi woman painting a piece of pottery; Hopi women walking to a spring to draw water for their families; Hopi women doing laundry; Hopi children attending a government day school; Hopi women grinding corn on mattates; Hopi women making bread; Hopi celebrating the eagle dance; John Ovayama meeting with Indian Agent, a Superintendent, and a Hopi chief in Keams Canyon; Hopi festival and ceremonial dancing praying for rain;Individuals? Named? John Ovayama, Hopi sheep rancher and farmer;Native language spoken: Hopi is sung in the opening credits and during an eagle danceAudible? Good audio of both narration and Hopi languageNoteworthy elements: Has good representation of ceremonial Hopi dancesOther notes: